I have to respectfully disagree with that idea. Even if a young child has had no contact whatsoever with other children (of any age) they still have gone through a period of socialization via their caregivers (parents etc) up until this point. It might not be socialism on the scale we usually think about, but it's there.Quote:
Originally Posted by hippifried
I haven't seen anyone able to make this observation (not saying it can't happen) as a universal concept for extremely young infants.
The older these infants are, the more socialization has had a part (even if it is a small part). Although I would be able to accept the idea that humanity is somewhat predisposed to buy into socialism along the lines of "don't hurt your brother," even at a young age but that doesn't mean a biological prewired determination. I can also foresee a function of the opposite (violent sibling rivalry).
To work from the other side of things (maladaptive actions, violence etc), I would not be surprised if the behaviors usually considered bad, evil, whatever are likewise the result of conditioning/socialization to a large degree, as a useful reaction. In a fucked up world where everyone is inclined to kill or mame you, it probably is an asset to be equally aggressive than to be alteri huic & passive. I am sure there is evidence to support this notion, profiles towards those who commit maladaptive acts often have a surprising level of accuracy in their commentary about the person's childhood & life experiences.
But neither of these wholly address the types of problems in society that got us on this tangent. There is, I believe, a subfiend of sociology & psychology to address groups & mobs. It can be entirely moot if the individual is even normally, as a biological instinct alteri huic if whenever banded in groups, the behavior is dramatically different. If anything mob violence and mass hysteria generated actions show at great length the way in which, in "societies" humanity is far from "naturally good" especially if these "group" actions are so universal despite differences in cultural & societal conditioning.
Related but not an example of mob violence or mass hysteria: There is that famous case, I think it was from Chicago or NYC where decades ago this girl was brutally attacked in front of a row of large apartment buildings in summer when everyone had their windows open. Everyone heard her screaming, but not a single person intervened or called law enforcement for her aid. I am sure their consciences bothered them the next day when they learned that she was never helped, but despite all the good intentioned people that existed in ear shot of the attack, everyone- even as individuals, assumed that someone else was already intervening or calling the police. "After all, it is a busy city, someone, MUST be doing something about it by now."